ÿWPCÒ …“`ÍP±'—*ODÅûxy;™)^ö­û‡ùÛÔå-—(Oãm–ÎV1]t–'óçÛõV ~€Ûÿ‚d2#3ΫE:w†šþǽYf ¹‘çx»u]¶³$!5þ(›ÿiãÔäÿ@ñÚÛÔڹœ?ȶ“Fîð"mïó¿þ÷ ]  >º†vãºüé–lj.ìäûOvD{ç.·òS6:5½ß.m&ô:Ñú–Óݣ䅇Ë厧\Ǿ.ü‡Vp˜î“¢ØµÃ,B¡|uvG‚ |£*ï]8j¢Ú]öº5=¨.8opÐòåÅ7жóõBkyr­ÍM8AaQ½?wòÝ %e:Wï~'ª§ùtmŽÚv‹!ÂÅJ’œU V~ºz%­¡¦ÄøYöîUÛE[#u7)åÊ©åK‚GíbÈ~÷¬ —jJØÙ1¾j»]Œ‹ÖÓ”¹³ê²xkLâ¥wœìçÅ7÷‡™vKòöÄt3¡0cÙdÀ—VWÑ-='uóZ¸ŸyHeN$kß<Äîÿ£ÍŽ\lÅ×ùœÀå þ“ïØúR)åã3Ç B6RFaªtêÐ÷ª³»åÅœ7ôo5±VBS©ÖPß˶¾aY»´Ë×⋎(ÅdB½b %\^ b 0ˆnU+NöwD4H\ zkÒå· m¹ #ÉÐ Ì™ Æe Æ+ÆñÆ· 0D}NÁÁÁEÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃbÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅ 0ëÍÍÍÍ B¸¸ 0¤Õ D5y D-® 0KÛÛ AS&Æy 0¤? 0Dã A«'»‘ƒ/Ï (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regularqdj/ê:i¢×+003|x ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ˜\\IB01S01\CLERK1NASÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0 ÂÝ ƒR)$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô©5ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ_ÔT.L.C.Ô_Ô€does€not€join€in€this€appeal.Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó- ù-(|G2)$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€ A»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô©5ò»»Ô d(|3ÿd$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€ A»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV)ÿÿ!dxdx)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3ÿd$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€ A»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€ A»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼ A»»»ÔÑ8€A9XXdì»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡îD AÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼ A»îîD #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓAugust€5,€2003€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡XA9X»¼ AÔÌò òÔ#†¼ A»XXA9ó#ÔSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE,€DEPARTMENT€OF€CHILDREN'S€SERVICES€v.Ð úJ ÐÔ_ÔT.L.C.Ô_Ô,€òòet€alóó.Ô‡XA9X»¼ AÔó óÐ  ^ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò ò€Appeal€from€the€Juvenile€Court€for€Coffee€CountyÐ  ^ Ðà@@øøìàNo.€554„00J€€€€€€Timothy€R.€Brock,€JudgeÐ ú J ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<½` AßÐ ¾  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M2003„00509„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„JV€„€Filed€December€3,€Ô_Ô2003Ô_ÔÐ ¹  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<` AßÐ ‘á  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓIn€this€appeal€the€Appellant,€Ô_ÔR.L.PÔ_Ô,€Sr.,€argues€that€the€Trial€Court€erred€in€terminating€his€parentalÐ ŒÜ Ðrights€to€his€son,€Ô_ÔR.L.P.Ô_Ô,€Jr.€€We€vacate€the€judgment€of€the€Trial€Court€and€remand.€€€€€€Ð xÈ ÐÓûÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Juvenile€Court€Vacated;€CauseÐ P  ÐRemandedó óÐ <Œ ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼ A»àXA9º#ÔÔ‡XA9X.¼ AÔHouston€M.€Goddard,€P.J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòHerschel€P.€Franksóó€andÐ d ÐòòCharles€D.€Susano,€Jr.óó,€joined.Ð P ÐÌJames€H.€Henry,€II,€Ô_ÔTullahomaÔ_Ô,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellant,€Ô_ÔR.L.P.Ô_Ô,€Sr.Ð Ø( ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€and€Reporter,€and€Elizabeth€C.€Driver,€Assistant€AttorneyÐ ° ÐGeneral,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellee,€State€of€Tennessee,€Department€of€Children'sÐ œì ÐServicesÐ ˆØ ÐÓÔÓÌò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼ A»XXA9#ÔÔ‡XA9X»¼ AÔÐ `!°  ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼ A»XXA9¶ #ÔÔ‡XA9X»¼ AÔÓ  Óà  àThe€child€in€this€matter,€Ô_ÔR.L.PÔ_Ô,€Jr.,€was€born€July€13,€2000.€€In€late€November€of€2000€theÐ 8#ˆ" ÐDepartment€of€Children's€Services€(€hereinafter€"the€Department")€in€an€investigation€upon€referral€Ð $$t# Ðbecame€aware€that€€Ô_ÔR.L.P.Ô_Ô,€Jr.,€who€has€had€asthma€since€birth,€was€being€kept€in€an€apartmentÐ %` $ Ðwhich€was€unlighted€and€cold,€electrical€service€having€been€temporarily€discontinued€the€previousÐ ü%L!% Ðday.€€At€the€time€the€whereabouts€of€his€mother,€Ô_ÔT.L.C.Ô_Ô,€were€unknown€and€he€was€in€the€sole€careÐ è&8"& Ðof€his€father,€Ô_ÔR.L.P.Ô_Ô,€Sr.€€According€to€Debra€Phillips,€the€Department€employee€conducting€theÐ Ô'$#' Ðinvestigation,€Ô_ÔR.L.P.Ô_Ô,€Jr.€ð ðfelt€warm€like€he€had€a€feverðð€and€ð ðhad€a€wheezing€sound€when€heÐ À($( Ðbreathed.ðð€€Ô_ÔR.L.P.Ô_Ô,€Sr.€indicated€that€he€felt€his€son€needed€to€go€to€the€doctor€as€soon€as€he€couldÐ ¬)ü$) Ðmake€an€appointment;€however,€it€appears€that€he€was€without€transportation.€€Ð ˜*è%* ÐÌà  àOn€December€4,€2000,€the€Department€filed€a€petition€for€temporary€custody€of€Ô_ÔR.L.P.Ô_Ô,€Jr.Ð p,À', Ðin€the€Coffee€County€Juvenile€Court.€€Based€upon€its€finding€that€there€was€probable€cause€to€believeÐ \-¬(-ý ÐÔ_Ôthat€R.L.P.,€Jr.€was€a€dependent€and€neglected€child,€the€Trial€Court€granted€the€Department'sÐ ° Ðpetition.€€R.L.P.,€Jr.€was€subsequently€transferred€to€a€foster€home€in€the€care€and€custody€of€R.L.P.,Ð œì ÐSr.ððs€cousin€and€was€thereafter€transferred€to€another€foster€home€where€he€was€still€residing€at€theÐ ˆØ Ðtime€of€trial.Ð tÄ ÐÌà  àThe€Department€began€working€with€and€monitoring€the€family€and€permanency€plans€wereÐ L œ Ðapproved€by€the€Court€with€the€designated€goal€of€reuniting€R.L.P.,€Jr.€with€his€parents.€€However,Ð 8 ˆ Ðthe€Department€ultimately€concluded€that€parental€rights€should€be€terminated€and€on€May€€1,€2002,Ð $ t Ðit€filed€a€petition€seeking€that€result.à h àÐ  ` ÐÌà  àTrial€of€the€petition€to€terminate€was€held€on€August€22,€2002.€€€The€Trial€Court€found€thatÐ è 8  Ðthe€Departmentððs€petition€relied€upon€three€grounds€for€termination€„€abandonment,€substantial€non„Ð Ô$  Ðcompliance€with€the€permanency€plan€and€persistence€of€those€conditions€which€were€present€at€theÐ À  Ðtime€of€R.L.P.,€Jr.ððs€removal€from€his€parents.€€The€Court€found€that€the€Department€had€failed€toÐ ¬ü  Ðprove€that€R.L.P.,€Jr.€was€abandoned€or€that€there€was€substantial€non„compliance€with€theÐ ˜è  Ðpermanency€plan.€€The€Court€did,€however,€determine€that€conditions€present€at€the€time€of€theÐ „Ô  Ðchildððs€removal€persisted€at€the€time€of€the€petition€to€terminate.€€After€making€this€determination,Ð pÀ Ðthe€Court€further€determined€that€it€would€be€in€R.L.P.€Jr.ððs€best€interest€if€parental€rights€wereÐ \¬ Ðterminated€and€granted€the€Departmentððs€petition.€€Thereafter,€R.L.P.,€Sr.€filed€this€appeal׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×.Ô#†¼ A»XXA9 #ÔÔ‡XA9X»¼ AÔÐ H˜ Ðà  àÌà  àAlthough€several€issues€have€been€presented€for€our€review,€it€is€our€determination€that€thisÐ  p Ðmatter€will€be€resolved€by€our€decision€as€to€but€one€of€these€issues€which€is€restated€as€follows:Ð  \ ÐÌà  àIs€there€clear€and€convincing€evidence€to€support€the€Trial€Courtððs€determination€that€thereÐ ä4 Ðare€grounds€for€termination€in€this€case€under€T.C.A.(g)(3)(A)?€€Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àOur€standard€of€review€in€this€non„jury€case€is€òòde€novoóó€upon€the€record€of€the€proceedingsÐ ¨ø Ðbelow€and€there€is€no€presumption€of€correctness€with€respect€to€the€Trial€Court's€conclusions€of€law.€Ð ”ä ÐòòCampbell€v.€Florida€Steel€Corp.óó,€919€S.W.2d€26€(Tenn.€1996)€and€T.R.A.P.€13(d).€€The€Trial€Court'sÐ €Ð Ðfactual€findings€are,€however,€presumed€to€be€correct€and€we€must€affirm€such€findings€absentÐ l¼ Ðevidence€preponderating€to€the€contrary.€€òòUnion€Carbide€Corp.€v.€Huddlestonóó,€854€S.W.2d€87€(Tenn.Ð X ¨ Ð1993).Ð D!” Ѐ€Ô#†¼ A»XXA9"#ÔÔ‡XA9X»¼ AÔà  àÐ 0"€  Ðà  àNoting€the€U.€S.€Supreme€Courtððs€decision€in€òòSantosky€v.€Krameróó,€455€U.S.€745€(1982),€thisÐ #l! ÐCourt€has€hitherto€recognized€that€ð ð[d]ue€process€requires€that€the€parentððs€conduct€allowing€the€stateÐ $X" Ðto€terminate€the€parent„child€relationship€must€be€established€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence.ðð€Ð ô$D # ÐòòStokes€v.€Arnold€óó27€S.W.3d€516€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2000).€€€ð ðClear€and€convincing€evidenceðð€isÐ à%0!$ Ðevidence€which€ð ðeliminates€any€serious€or€substantial€doubt€concerning€the€correctness€of€theÐ Ì&"% Ðconclusions€to€be€drawn€from€the€evidence.ðð€€òòOððDaniel€v.€Messieróó,€905€S.W.2d€182€(Tenn.Ct.€App.Ð ¸'#& Ð1995).€Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÐ )à$( Ðà  àT.€C.€A.€36„1„113(c)€€requires€that€termination€of€parental€rights€be€based€upon€the€following:Ð ° ÐÌÒ€°ÒÒ€°Ò(1)€A€finding€by€the€court€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€the€grounds€forÐ ˆØ Ðtermination€or€parental€or€guardianship€rights€have€been€established;€and€Ð tÄ Ð(2)€That€termination€of€the€parentððs€or€guardianððs€rights€is€in€the€best€interests€ofÐ `° Ðthe€child.Ð L œ ÐÌÒ°€ÒÒ°€Òà  àT.C.A.€36„1„113(g)€sets€forth€the€€various€grounds€upon€which€initiation€of€termination€mayÐ $ t Ðbe€based€and€includes€the€following€ground€which€was€relied€upon€by€the€Trial€Court€in€the€instantÐ  ` Ðmatter:Ð ü L  ÐÌÒ€°ÒÒ€°Ò(3)(A)€The€child€has€been€removed€from€the€home€of€the€parent€or€guardian€byÐ Ô$  Ðorder€of€a€court€for€a€period€of€six€(6)€months€and:Ð À  Ѐ€€€(i)€The€conditions€which€led€to€the€childððs€removal€or€other€conditions€whichÐ ¬ü  Ðin€all€reasonable€probability€would€cause€the€child€to€be€subject€to€further€abuseÐ ˜è  Ðor€neglect€and€which,€therefore,€prevent€the€childððs€safe€return€to€the€care€of€theÐ „Ô  Ðparent(s)€or€guardian(s),€still€persist;Ð pÀ Ѐ€€€(ii)€There€is€little€likelihood€that€these€conditions€will€be€remedied€at€an€earlyÐ \¬ Ðdate€so€that€the€child€can€be€safely€returned€to€the€parent(s)€or€guardian(s)€in€theÐ H˜ Ðnear€future;€and€Ð 4„ Ѐ€€€(iii)€The€continuation€of€the€parent€or€guardian€and€child€relationship€greatlyÐ  p Ðdiminishes€the€childððs€chances€of€early€integration€into€a€safe,€stable€andÐ  \ Ðpermanent€home.Ð øH ÐÌÒ°€ÒÒ°€Òà  àR.L.P,€Sr.€concedes€that€R.L.P.,€Jr.€has€been€removed€from€the€home€for€six€months€but€heÐ Ð  Ðdenies€that€there€is€clear€and€convincing€evidence€in€this€caseÔ#†¼ A»XXA9Ù#ÔÔ‡XA9X»¼ AÔ€which€supports€the€Trial€CourtððsÐ ¼  Ðfinding€of€the€persistence€of€€those€conditions€which€led€to€his€sonððs€removal€or€ð ðother€conditionsÐ ¨ø Ðwhich€in€all€reasonable€probability€would€cause€the€child€to€be€subject€to€further€abuse€or€neglect.ððÐ ”ä ÐÌà  àThe€findings€of€the€Trial€Court€with€respect€to€persistence€of€conditions€are€incorporated€intoÐ l¼ Ðits€final€order€of€November€4,€2002,€as€follows:Ð X ¨ ÐÌÒ€°ÒÒ€°Òà Ø àThe€last€ground€would€be€persistent€conditions,€the€conditions€which€wereÐ 0"€  Ðpresent€at€the€time€this€child€was€removed.€€As€I€said€earlier,€there€was€obviouslyÐ #l! Ðan€inability€for€[R.L.P.,€Sr.]€to€provide€for€this€child.€€There€was€an€inability€toÐ $X" Ðhave€adequate€money€to€provide€a€suitable€home€for€this€child.€€There€wasÐ ô$D # Ðapparently€an€inability€or€at€least€some€concern€about€providing€medical€attentionÐ à%0!$ Ðin€the€appropriate€manner,€to€provide€appropriate€food€and€shelter,€the€basicÐ Ì&"% Ðnecessities€for€this€child.Ð ¸'#& ÐÌà Ø àAt€this€point€[T.L.C.]€was€not€at€the€home.€€She€had€chosen€to€leave€for€Ð )à$( Ðwhatever€reason€and€there€was€no€evidence€to€suggest€why€she€left.€€She€justÐ |*Ì%) Ðtestified€she€left€and€had€gone€with€her€parents€or€had€gone€with€some€friends.€Ð h+¸&* ÐThose€are€the€conditions€which€we€have€to€look€to€see€if€they€persisted€over€aÐ ° Ðperiod€of€time€up€until€the€filing€of€the€petition.Ð œì Ðà Ø àÔ#†¼ A»XXA9w(#ÔÔ‡XA9X»¼ AÔÌà Ø àThe€facts€are€as€follows€that€I€find€to€be€pertinent€and€proven€by€clear€andÐ tÄ Ðconvincing€evidence,€the€facts€as€it€relates€to€this€particular€ground.€€[R.L.P.,€Sr.]Ð `° Ðhas€had€five€different€residences€since€this€case€began.€€[T.L.C.]€has€had€sevenÐ L œ Ðdifferent€residences€since€this€case€began€in€2000.€€While€[T.L.C.]€has€worked€ð!ðÐ 8 ˆ Ðit€appears€that€[T.L.C.]€has€worked€on€a€more€consistent€basis€than€[R.L.P,€Sr.],Ð $ t Ðbut€her€employment€has€been€sporadic.€€At€times€she€has€worked€more€than€oneÐ  ` Ðjob.€€I€think€she€has€made€a€good€faith€effort€to€maintain€employment.Ð ü L  ÐÌà Ø à[R.L.P.,€Sr.ððs]€employment€history€is€more€checkered.€€He€is€sporadic€atÐ Ô$  Ðbest.€€At€one€point€he€apparently€voluntarily€left€employment€on€at€least€twoÐ À  Ðoccasions,€one€at€Desa€and€one€at€Calsonic,€both€of€which€were€apparently€fairlyÐ ¬ü  Ðgood„paying€jobs€and€his€reason€at€least€for€one€of€those€occasions€was€that€he€didÐ ˜è  Ðnot€have€transportation.Ð „Ô  ÐÌà Ø àNeither€parent€has€completed€their€high€school€education.€€The€child€thatððsÐ \¬ Ðthe€subject€of€this€litigation,€[R.L.P.,€Jr.]€is€a€special€needs€child€for€speech€andÐ H˜ Ðhearing€therapy.€€The€visitation€has€been€inconsistent.€€Iððm€speaking€primarily€ofÐ 4„ Ðthe€time€frame€December€of€2000€to€April€of€2002.€€There€have€been€sporadicÐ  p Ðinconsistent€visitation.Ð  \ ÐÌà Ø àI€feel€that€there€have€been€times€when€both€[R.L.P.,€Sr.]€and€[T.L.C.]€haveÐ ä4 Ðattempted€to€contact€Childrenððs€Services€and€there€may€have€been€someÐ Ð  Ðconfusion,€but€itððs€obvious€that€at€other€times€that€simply€visitation€was€notÐ ¼  Ðexercised.€€How€many€times€those€are,€I€canððt€tell.€I€donððt€think€anyone€couldÐ ¨ø Ðmake€a€determination€of€that.Ð ”ä ÐÌà Ø àThe€separation€of€[R.L.P.,€Sr.]€and€[T.L.C.]€was€a€contributing€factor€andÐ l¼ Ða€condition€which€existed€in€December€of€2000.€€There€has€been€since€DecemberÐ X ¨ Ðof€2000€at€least€one€other€separation€which€occurred€in€February€of€2002.Ð D!” ÐÌà Ø à[R.L.P.,€Sr.]€does€not€have€a€driverððs€license€at€this€point€ð!ð€they€areÐ #l! Ðsuspended€ð!ð€and€that€has€apparently€contributed€to€his€inability€to€find€consistentÐ $X" Ðemployment.€[T.L.C.]€has€been€without€a€valid€license€for€some€time,€has€beenÐ ô$D # Ðaware€of€it€for€a€shorter€period€of€time,€€but€€apparently€has€taken€some€measuresÐ à%0!$ Ðto€get€that€problem€straightened€out.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌà Ø àWhat€Iððm€going€to€find€based€upon€those€facts€is€that€the€conditions€whichÐ ¤(ô#' Ðexisted€December€2000€have€persisted€and€existed€as€of€April€2002.€€I€think€theÐ )à$( Ðfacts€justify€that€finding.€€Those€primary€conditions€being€the€separation,€theÐ |*Ì%) Ðfailure€to€have€steady€employment,€and€the€failure€to€have€a€stable,€adequateÐ h+¸&* Ðhome.€€Those€are€the€primary€conditions€that€have€existed€on€and€off€forÐ ° Ðapproximately€two€years,€December€until€April€of€2002.Ð œì ÐÌÒ°€ÒÒ°€Òà  àAs€we€have€noted,€the€child€was€initially€removed€from€the€home€because€the€home€wasÐ tÄ Ðunlighted€and€cold€as€a€result€of€the€power€having€been€cut€off€the€previous€day€and€because€he€Ð `° Ðappeared€to€be€ill€and€his€father€was€without€means€of€transporting€him€to€a€doctor.€€At€the€time€ofÐ L œ Ðremoval€R.L.P.,€Sr.€and€T.L.C.€had€separated€and€T.L.C.€was€absent€from€the€home.€€Although€theÐ 8 ˆ ÐCourt€appears€to€indicate€that€one€of€the€conditions€which€led€to€the€removal€was€the€inability€toÐ $ t Ðprovide€appropriate€food,€we€do€not€agree€that€the€record€supports€that€finding.€€In€regard€to€theÐ  ` Ðconditions€at€the€time€of€removal€we€also€note€the€€following€testimony€of€Department€investigator,Ð ü L  ÐDebra€Phillips:Ð è 8  ÐÌÒ€°ÒÒ€°ÒQ€€In€other€words,€your€investigation€was€based€on€the€fact€that€you€had€a€reportÐ À  Ðthat€there€was€an€inadequate€environment.€€You€went€there€and€you€found€whatÐ ¬ü  Ðyou€felt€was,€in€fact,€an€inadequate€environment.Ð ˜è  ÐÌA€€Correct.Ð pÀ ÐÌQ€€It€was€cold€inside.€€There€was€no€heat€and€light€and€so€you€further€investigated.Ð H˜ ÐÌA€€Correct.Ð  p ÐÌQ€€Okay.€€But€if€there€had€been€heat€and€light€in€the€place,€you€probably€wouldÐ øH Ðhave€said,€ð ðWell,€okay,€maybe€he€needs€a€little€bit€of€help,€but€thatððs€it.ðð€€Is€thatÐ ä4 Ðmy€understanding?Ð Ð  ÐÌA€€Correct.Ð ¨ø ÐÌQ€€Okay.€So€after€you€did€your€investigation,€itððs€my€understanding€that€theÐ €Ð Ðprimary€concern€then€was€the€capability€of€the€parents€in€taking€care€of€[R.L.P.,Ð l¼ ÐJr.]?Ð X ¨ ÐÌA€€Correct.Ð 0"€  ÐÌÒ°€ÒÒ°€Òà  àWhile€we€have€no€doubt€about€the€propriety€of€the€initial€removal€in€this€case,€we€are€at€theÐ $X" Ðsame€time€compelled€to€note€evidence€of€parental€attention€to€€the€child€at€the€time€of€removal.€€InÐ ô$D # Ðthis€regard€Ms.€Phillips€testified€that€R.L.P.,€Sr.€had€wrapped€R.L.P.,€Jr.€in€multiple€layers€of€clothingÐ à%0!$ Ðto€keep€him€warm€and€that€a€piece€of€paper€was€posted€on€the€refrigerator€designating€times€whenÐ Ì&"% Ðthe€child€was€fed.€€Ms.€Phillips€further€testified€that€she€has€never€doubted€that€R.L.P.,€Sr.€loves€hisÐ ¸'#& Ðson€and€stated:Ð ¤(ô#' Ðâ âÐ )à$( ÐÒ€°ÒÒ€°ÒThe€problem€is€that€[R.L.P.,€Sr.]€at€that€particular€time€didnððt€seem€to€have€skillsÐ ° Ðto€take€care€of€a€baby€and€keep€that€baby€safe€and€healthy.€€It€wasnððt€that€he€didnððtÐ œì Ðcare€about€the€child.Ð ˆØ Ðâ âÌÒ°€ÒÒ°€Òà  àIn€summary,€it€may€be€stated€that€the€original€conditions€which€led€to€the€childððs€removalÐ `° Ðwere€the€fatherððs€ignorance€of€parenting€skills,Ô#†¼ A»XXA9J/#ÔÔ‡XA9X»¼ AÔ€the€financial€inability€of€the€father€to€provide€certainÐ L œ Ðbasic€necessities€for€his€child,€and€the€absence€of€the€mother€as€a€result€of€the€parentsðð€separation€andÐ 8 ˆ Ðthe€resultant€instability€in€the€home.Ð $ t ÐÌà  àWe€now€review€the€findings€of€the€Trial€Court€which€it€presented€in€support€of€itsÐ ü L  Ðdetermination€that€grounds€for€termination€of€parental€rights€exist€under€T.C.A.€36„1„113(g).€Ð è 8  ÐÌà  àThe€first€condition€designated€by€the€Court€is€the€fact€that,€since€R.L.P.,€Jr.€was€removedÐ À  Ðfrom€the€home€in€December€of€2000,€the€father€has€had€five€different€residences€and€the€mother€hasÐ ¬ü  Ðhad€seven€different€residences.€€This€finding€is€confirmed€by€the€parentsðð€own€testimony.€€However,Ð ˜è  Ðwe€do€not€agree€that€the€mere€fact€that€the€parents€were€living€in€multiple€locations€during€theÐ „Ô  Ðeighteen€month€period€preceding€trial€denotes€the€existence€of€a€condition€that€in€all€reasonableÐ pÀ Ðprobability€would€cause€R.L.P.,€Jr.€to€be€subject€to€abuse€or€neglect.€€There€is€no€proof€€that€any€ofÐ \¬ Ðthe€residences€in€which€either€R.L.P,€Jr.€and€T.L.C.€lived€during€this€period€of€time€presented€anÐ H˜ Ðenvironment€that€was€either€unsafe€or€unhealthy€for€their€child.€€In€fact,€Jessica€Johnson,€theÐ 4„ ÐDepartment€caseworker€who€handled€this€case€from€December€of€2000€until€June€of€2001€and€fromÐ  p ÐApril€of€2002€until€trial,€confirmed€that€the€parties€maintain€a€ð ðclean€and€loving€homeðð€and€statedÐ  \ Ðð ð€The€home€is€very€clean.€Theyððve€never€had€a€problem€with€clean.ðð€€Although€there€is€testimonyÐ øH Ðthat€one€of€the€residences€in€which€the€parents€lived€with€relatives€of€R.L.P.,€Sr.€was€crowded,€thereÐ ä4 Ðis€no€evidence€that€that€residence€or€any€other€residence€inhabited€by€the€parents€since€removalÐ Ð  Ðpresented€an€environment€that€was€either€unsafe€or€unhealthy.€Ð ¼  ÐÔ#†¼ A»XXA9>I#ÔÔ‡XA9X»¼ AÔÌà  àThe€next€condition€referenced€by€the€Trial€Court€is€the€sporadic€employment€record€of€eachÐ ”ä Ðof€the€parents.€€€R.L.P.,€Sr.€testified€that€he€works€ð ðoccasionallyðð€and€€is€permanently€registered€withÐ €Ð Ða€staffing€agency€which€places€him€for€work€when€they€have€an€opening.€€He€further€indicated€€thatÐ l¼ Ðthe€jobs€he€acquires€through€this€agency€are€of€variable€duration.€€It€appears€that€the€longest€periodÐ X ¨ Ðof€time€that€R.L.P.,€Sr.€has€held€a€job€is€one€year.€€He€lost€this€job€as€well€as€another€job€of€relativelyÐ D!” Ðlong€duration€which€he€had€obtained€through€the€agency€because€his€car€broke€down€and€he€couldÐ 0"€  Ðnot€secure€alternative€transportation.€€He€did,€€however,€testify€without€contest€that€he€now€owns€aÐ #l! Ðcar€and€a€truck.€€Although€he€testified€that€at€the€time€of€trial€his€driverððs€license€had€been€suspendedÐ $X" Ðfor€failure€to€pay€a€ticket,€he€also€testified€that€he€has€now€paid€the€ticket€and€that€he€will€have€hisÐ ô$D # Ðlicense€back€once€he€has€paid€the€reinstatement€fee.€€T.L.C.ððs€license€was€also€suspended€but,Ð à%0!$ Ðaccording€to€her€testimony,€had€been€reinstated€at€the€time€of€trial.€€R.L.P.,€Sr.€attested€that€he€wasÐ Ì&"% Ðnot€employed€at€the€time€of€trial€and€was€most€recently€employed€one€month€before€trial€doing€carpetÐ ¸'#& Ðand€furniture€cleaning€work.€€The€record€shows€that€T.L.C.€has€been€employed€off€and€on€sinceÐ ¤(ô#' ÐR.L.P.,€Jr.€was€removed€from€the€home.€€It€appears€from€the€record€that€at€some€point€T.L.C.€wasÐ )à$( Ðworking€two€part€time€jobs.€It€also€appears€that€she€was€working€during€the€first€three€months€ofÐ |*Ì%) Ð2002,€was€employed€sporadically€thereafter€and€was€employed€at€the€time€of€trial.€€Ð h+¸&* Їà  àWhile€we€find€that€the€record€confirms€the€finding€of€the€Trial€Court€that€both€parents€haveÐ ° Ða€sporadic€work€history,€€we€do€not€agree€that€this€constitutes€a€condition€which€warrants€terminationÐ œì Ðof€their€parental€rights.€à  àAlthough€at€the€time€of€R.L.P.,€Jr.ððs€removal,€power€to€the€home€hadÐ ˆØ Ðbeen€cut€off€because€R.L.P.,€Sr.€was€unemployed€and€unable€to€pay€for€electrical€services,€there€isÐ tÄ Ðno€proof€that,€since€that€time,€he€has€either€had€insufficient€income€to€pay€for€electrical€services€orÐ `° Ðbeen€without€such€services.€€Nor€has€it€been€demonstrated€that€he€has€had€insufficient€resourcesÐ L œ Ðotherwise€to€provide€for€R.L.P.,€Jr.Ô#†¼ A»XXA9áQ#Ô€Ô‡XA9X»¼ AÔ€We€do€not€agree€that€the€Department€has€presented€clear€andÐ 8 ˆ Ðconvincing€evidence€that€the€sporadic€employment€of€the€parents€would€in€all€reasonable€probabilityÐ J š Ðcause€R.L.P.,€Jr.€to€be€subject€to€abuse€or€neglect.Ô#†¼ A»XXA9·\#ÔÔ‡XA9X»¼ AÔ€€Ð 6 † Ðà  àÌà  àWe€next€address€the€Trial€Courtððs€finding€that€neither€parent€has€completed€high€school.€Ð ^  ÐAlthough€T.L.C.€testified€that€she€only€completed€the€eleventh€grade€and€is€endeavoring€to€obtain€Ð úJ  Ða€GED,€R.L.P.,€Sr.€testified€without€dispute€that€he€did€graduate€from€high€school.€€Thus,€it€is€ourÐ æ6  Ðdetermination€that€the€Trial€Courtððs€finding€that€R.L.P.,€Sr.€did€not€complete€his€high€schoolÐ Ò"  Ðeducation€is€erroneous.€€In€any€event,€we€do€not€agree€that€the€fact€that€either€parent€failed€toÐ ¾  Ðcomplete€high€school€constitutes€a€condition€that€in€reasonable€probability€would€cause€R.L.P.,€Jr.Ð ªú  Ðto€be€subject€to€abuse€or€neglect.Ð –æ ÐÌà  àWe€next€address€the€matter€of€the€parentsðð€visitation€of€R.L.P.,€Jr.€after€his€removal€from€theÐ n¾ Ðhome.€€As€the€Court€indicates,€the€record€is€somewhat€confusing€as€to€frequency€of€visitation.€TheÐ Zª Ðrecord€shows€that€the€Department€began€working€toward€extended€visitation€in€September€of€2001Ð F– Ðand€that€overnight€visitation€for€two€consecutive€nights€began€around€Thanksgiving€of€that€year.€Ð 2‚ ÐVisitation€appears€to€have€been€regular€throughout€December€of€2001€with€weekly€overnightÐ n Ðvisitation€continuing;€however,€there€seems€to€have€been€only€one€three€day€visit€at€the€beginningÐ  Z Ðof€January.€€The€most€extensive€period€of€time€the€parents€failed€to€visit€appears€to€have€been€a€sixÐ öF Ðweek€period€which€began€in€mid„February€of€2002€when€Ms.€Conley€informed€the€parents.€that€sheÐ â2 Ðwould€be€proceeding€with€termination€of€their€parental€rights.€€Her€testimony€is€that€the€parentsÐ Î Ðbecame€very€upset€at€that€point.€€ð ðWhen€I€would€attempt€to€speak€with€[T.L.C.]€about€it,€she€wouldÐ º  Ðsay,€ð ðYouððve€already€decided€youððre€taking€him€away.€€There€isnððt€any€reason€for€me€to€come€visit.ðð€Ð ¦ö ÐApparently€R.L.P.,€Sr.€visited€only€once€during€this€period.€€The€record€shows€that€€visitationÐ ’â Ðresumed€the€first€of€April,€2002,€and€from€that€time€until€the€first€of€May€there€were€six€visits€andÐ ~ Î Ðtwo€cancellations.€à ¸ àÐ j!º ÐÌà  àAlthough€we€do€not€disagree€with€the€Courtððs€finding€that€at€times€visitation€was€notÐ B#’! Ðexercised€by€the€parents,€we€do€not€agree€that€their€failure€in€this€regard€was€so€extreme€under€theÐ .$~" Ðcircumstances€as€to€constitute€clear€and€convincing€evidence€of€a€condition€which€would€in€allÐ %j # Ðreasonable€probability€cause€R.L.P.,€Jr.€to€be€subject€to€abuse€or€neglect.€Ð &V!$ ÐÌà  àThe€next€factor€we€address€which€was€referenced€by€the€Trial€Court€is€the€instability€of€theÐ Þ'.#& Ðparentsðð€relationship.€€The€record€shows€that,€as€of€trial,€this€relationship€had€lasted€forÐ Ê($' Ðapproximately€four€years€and€T.L.C.€testifies€that€she€and€R.L.P.,€Sr.€have€separated€a€total€of€threeÐ ¶)%( Ðor€four€times€during€that€period.€€As€to€the€period€of€time€subsequent€to€the€removal€of€R.L.P.,€Jr.,Ð ¢*ò%) Ðthe€parents€apparently€remained€separated€from€late€November€of€2000€until€they€reunited€in€JuneÐ Ž+Þ&* Ðof€2001.€€In€January€of€2002€the€parents€separated€again€but€reunited€€in€March€of€that€year€and€€wereÐ ° Ðcontinuing€to€live€together€at€the€time€of€trial.€€Ð œì ÐÌà  àWhile€the€record€confirms€that€there€has€been€instability€in€the€relationship€between€R.L.P.,Ð tÄ ÐSr.€and€T.L.C.,€we€do€not€agree€that€this€instability€constitutes€a€condition€which€in€all€reasonable€Ð `° Ðprobability€would€cause€R.L.P.,€Jr.€to€be€subject€to€abuse€or€neglect.€€Testimony€of€DepartmentÐ L œ Ðemployees€indicates€that€R.L.P.,€Sr.€is€R.L.P.,€Jr.ððs€primary€caregiver€and€that€the€two€are€wellÐ 8 ˆ Ðbonded.€€Ms.€Johson€testified€regarding€her€observations€during€visitation€as€follows:Ð $ t ÐÌÒ€°ÒÒ€°ÒIððve€noticed€that€[the€parents]€are€generally€happy€to€see€him€and€heððs€happy€to€seeÐ ü L  Ðthem.€€Iððve€noticed€that€[R.L.P.,€Sr.]€is€usually€the€one€who€holds€[R.L.P.,€Jr.]€andÐ è 8  Ðtakes€care€of€him€during€the€visitation.€€Heððs€usually€the€primary€caretaker€in€theÐ Ô$  Ðvisits€that€I€have€observed€and€in€the€interactions€I€have€observed.€€€€€€€Ð À  ÐÒ°€ÒÒ°€ÒÌà  àMs.€Conley€testified€that€during€the€period€of€time€between€SeptemberÔ#†¼ A»XXA9ö]#Ô€Ô‡XA9X»¼ AÔand€December€ofÐ ˜è  Ð2001€on€three€days€each€week€the€parents€would€€pick€R.L.P.,€Jr.€up€in€the€morning€and€keep€himÐ ªú  Ðall€day.€€Ms.€Conley€further€testified€that€during€this€period€of€time€there€would€be€days€when€R.L.P.,Ð –æ ÐSr.€would€have€the€child€by€himself.€€Apparently€the€Department€was€satisfied€with€visitation€andÐ ‚Ò ÐR.L.P.ðð€Sr.ððs€performance€during€this€period€because€it€allowed€overnight€visitation€to€begin€in€lateÐ n¾ ÐNovember€of€2001.€€We€also€note€the€fact€that€R.L.P.,€Sr.€had€completed€parenting€classes€by€the€endÐ Zª Ðof€March€2002.€€In€view€of€all€this€we€cannot€agree€that€there€is€clear€and€convincing€evidence€thatÐ F– ÐR.L.P.,€Jr.€would€in€all€reasonable€probability€be€subject€to€neglect€even€in€the€event€of€the€partiesððÐ 2‚ Ðseparation.€Ð n ÐÌà  àThe€Department€asserts€that€there€have€been€instances€of€domestic€violence€in€the€homeÐ öF Ðbetween€R.L.P.,€Sr.€and€T.L.C.€€Although€the€Trial€Court€found€that€there€was€ð ðsome€degree€of€Ð â2 Ðdomestic€violence€in€the€homeðð€in€conducting€the€ð ðbest€interestðð€analysis€€required€under€T.C.A.€36„Ð Î Ð1„113(c)(2)€it€made€no€specific€findings€as€to€the€circumstances€of€such€violence€and€it€did€not€Ð º  Ðsupport€its€determination€that€grounds€exist€for€termination€under€T.C.A.€36„1„113(g)(3)(A)€withÐ ¦ö Ðthis€finding.€€In€support€of€its€assertion€regarding€the€persistence€of€domestic€violence€in€the€home,Ð ’â Ðthe€Department€cites€testimony€of€R.L.P.,€Sr.€wherein€he€admits€that€€he€has€pushed€T.L.C.€and€thatÐ ~ Î Ðon€one€occasion€he€struck€her.€€The€Department€does€not€state€when€these€events€took€place€nor€isÐ j!º Ðthis€indicated€in€the€referenced€testimony.€€When€asked€if€he€fights€often€with€T.L.C.,€R.L.P.,€Sr.Ð V"¦  Ðtestified€ð ðNot€anymore.€€I€try€to€avoid€that.ðð€€While€we€condemn€any€violence€which€may€haveÐ B#’! Ðoccurred€between€these€parents,€we€do€not€find€that€the€Department€has€presented€clear€andÐ .$~" Ðconvincing€evidence€that€domestic€violence€is€a€persisting€condition€in€the€home€that€in€allÐ %j # Ðreasonable€probability€will€subject€R.L.P.,€Jr.€to€abuse€or€neglect.Ð &V!$ ÐÌà  àFor€the€foregoing€reasons€the€judgment€of€the€Trial€Court€is€vacated€and€the€cause€isÐ Þ'.#& Ðremanded€for€proceedings€consistent€with€this€opinion.€€Costs€of€appeal€are€adjudged€against€theÐ Ê($' ÐState€of€Tennessee,€Department€of€Childrenððs€Services.Ð ¶)%( ÐÌÐ Ž+Þ&* Їà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à_________________________________________Ð ° Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àHOUSTON€M.€GODDARD,€PRESIDING€JUDGEÐ œì ÐÔ#†¼ A»XXA9q#ÔÔ‡XA9X»¼ AÔÌÔ#†¼ A»XXA9@}#ÔÔ‡XA9X»¼ AÔà  à€€€€€